Page 84 of Worth the Trip

It snapped shut.

He laughed and rested his forehead against mine.

“Terrible surveillance.”

I laughed too, still holding his shirt.

“That was a very confident first-round interview.”

“I believe in demonstrating value.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“You kissed me back.”

“I was gathering data.”

“Mhm.” He lifted his head. “What the research say?”

I smoothed the wrinkles I’d made in his shirt. “Findings remain under review.”

“Need a larger sample size?”

My eyes lifted to his.

That grin.

“Good night, Landon.”

He laughed.

“See how you avoid rigorous methodology.”

“Go home.”

“As you wish.”

He kissed my forehead, stepped away, then reconsidered long enough to steal one brief kiss from my mouth.

I stared at him.

“That was not your forehead.”

“I’m aware.”

“You’re pushing it.”

“Worth it.” I shook my head. “Good night, Hershey.”

“Good night.”

Landon waited until I unlocked the front door before walking back toward his SUV.

I watched him go longer than necessary, then I stepped inside.

Nyla rose from Nana’s sofa with her arms folded and the expression of a woman preparing to testify before Congress.

“You have lost your damn mind.”